I drag my mouth down her chest, hands parting her thighs.
“Now be a good girl,” I murmur, “and spread your legs for me.”
I’mdeep in work mid-flight when I get a text from Cece.
Cece
Hey. I don’t want to alarm you, but we had an issue with Cole today at school. He won’t talk to the counselor or the principal. Says he’ll only talk to you.
Oh, fuck.
I type back quickly.
What happened? Is he okay?
Cece
Physically, he’s fine. He was caught skipping class. The friend he was with had marijuana. They don’t think Cole knew about it, but he won’t say a word. I can go into details later if you’d like... I just didn’t want to say anything in front of him when you pick him up tonight.
I let out a heavy breath, glancing at Jordan. She’s passed out next to me on the bed, bundled in blankets, lips slightly parted. She started to fall asleep in her seat until I reminded her of the kinked neck she got last time she did that.
She made me come back here with her.Mademight not be the right word—she coerced me. With her hands, her mouth, and a promise to christen the plane. She passed out five minutes after we finished.
I debate waking her up, but decide against it. I can tell her later.
Nothing I can do now, anyway.
Alright. Hopefully he’ll open up to me this weekend. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.
She likes the message.
I set my laptop aside and scoot down the bed, lying beside Jordan. I stare at the ceiling, thinking about the best way to handle this. It’s not like he did anything crazy. Hell, I’m not sure I even discourage ditching class if it’s only done occasionally. Every kid has to try it.Right?
Shit. I’m not going to be a good dad.
Cece tells me something like this and my first thought is,Big fucking deal?The only thing that actually concerns me is how out of character it is for him. It’s not aboutwhathe did. It’swhy. That’s what has me worried.
I wonder if Cece has him in therapy. The guardian ad litem suggested it. Maybe I should see if Leo knows someone.
I did therapy for a long time. I started freshman year and went all through high school. I never told anyone, not even Jordan. When her dadwent to prison, she started seeing a therapist at the same office, and she never knew I was doing the same thing. I’d take her to her appointments, start mine five minutes late and end five minutes early, and the staff treated me like a stranger every time she was there. They fucking loved me.
Maybe I could take Cole to do something fun. Nothing big. I don’t want it to feel like a reward, just time together.
I turn and scoot close to Jordan, close my eyes, and let the hum of the engine quiet my thoughts.
Cole takesa large swig of his lemonade. Who drinks lemonade with a burger? I can’t think of a worse combo.
I’m sitting in a booth at the first In-N-Out to open in Chicago—sleeves rolled up, a double-double and fries in front of me, andChrist…it’s fucking good.
Fast food isn’t part of my lifestyle. Hell, I can’t even remember the last time I sat inside a fast-food joint. And right now? I’m loving every minute of it.
Cole’s got sauce dripping down his hand, chill as can be.
Jordan and I picked him up an hour after we landed. I talked to her about Cole on the flight after she woke up. We both agreed it would be best if I took him out alone. I dropped her off at home, and now here I am, a jet-lagged, tired-as-shit thirty-five-year-old eating burgers and fries with my godson on a plastic seat.
“So,” I say after swallowing a bite. “How’s your grandma’s?”
Starting small. Trying to keep it normal.
